Matrix-aligning means



Jan. 13, 1931. s. E. SPERRY MATRIX ALIGNING MEANS Filed March 8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 Mfr-144 EY Jan. 13, 1931. s. E. sPERRY MATRIX ALIGNING MEANS INVENTOR 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 Filed March 8, 1929 t Jarnac/E. @vcr/y,

i Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNITED-STAT or NEWYORK, NLY.; a ooaro'anrron or nnwk'xo'nx YirrAkTnIx-A'manine MEANSY Application led March 8,

The present invention relates toV improve.

a keyboard and areV assembledji'na line fr orn which a type bar or slug is cast,.a mach-ine of this general class being shownand `described S. Letters Patent'No;"436,532 l w granted September 165,189@ to O.- Mergenthaler. e Y l. Y Machines of thisV class have been developed so that they are-adapted to'use-eith'er matrices j each having a singleltype forming characterv is punched therein or matrices each bearing two of such characters located at different heights, such machines having an assembling elevaL tor, a delivery channel, A.a rstfelevator and a casting mold, each of such partsbeing pro- 2o vided with rails forsupporting the matrices during Ytheir advancethrough` the machine andfor aligning them in front ofthe mold for the purpose of casting thetype bar orV siug against a line of suchassembled matrices.l

The usualtwofletter matrices as A heretofore generally used have twotype forming char# acters punched in their castingjedge in'such position withrespect to the usufalupper Vand lower lugs on that edge of ,the matrix as tov 3o permit one or the other of the characters,

to align withthe slug cast-ing cavityl of thel mold while theV portion of thescasting edgev of the matrix which lies between'the character punchin gs engages the face ofthe mold and forms a seal which prevents How-of the molten type metal beyond .the character punching which is aligned with the mold 'and' from which the cast is'to be made. Heretofare, the character punchings -in* `two-letter matrices have been spaced aparta predetermined distance and the machineshave been constructed accordingly to use suoli matrices, but the alignments heretofore used for f the o upper and lower character punchings twoletter matrices andthe corresponding Iconstruction of the machine to conform with such matrices have limited the pointsizeof thecharacters which itis possible tol lise nk the matrices although a demand has arisen 1929. serial No. 345,525.

for the casting of type bars or slugs khaving larger point sizes.

. Vrlhe primaryobject of the-present'inven- PATE? FFCE f SAMUEL n. SPERRY,fornottisnnw' Yoan, Assierixroa ro INTER'TYPE coRPoRATroN,

tion 1 isfto provide;v certain improvements whereby standarl machines ofy the general class hereinbefore referred to may beadapted to properly align two-letter lmatrices irrespective of whether the'character;pnnchings'k thereon are located on theusualalignments `heretoforegenerally 'used or are located on alignments which are spaced apart to aL greater extent than heretofore and have chiar-v acter punchings of larger'point sizes'than heretofore possible with -two-'lettermatrices heretofore used. and which require an extra highalignment. Y

` .A further objectof the invention is' .to

.provide means for controlling the aligning,

of the' matrices with respectV to the mold so 'that matrices either of the usual two-letter kindforthose reqiiiring an extra high align-V ment-may be yproperly positioned withrespe'ct to the slug casting cavity in the mold, s uchmeans Vpreferably comprising a transport rail which supports the matrices while they are being advanced to the extraihigh alignment, y the .Ymere settingfofisnchrail adapting the machine tcthecas'ting of slugs from one'or theother vform of matrices, thereby avoiding the necessity of applying to the machinev specialy parts Ywith special matrix aligning-means whenevermatrice's of one orf the other form is to bensed inthe machines. To these and other end s,the invention consists incertain yimprovements and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, thefeaturesf Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but-showingr the Imold fand the ffii-st elevator modified and adapted to receiveY matrices oi the ini-V proved kind such as shown in Fig. 2, the full and dotted lines showing respectively such a matriX positioned at the low and eXtra high p alignments with respect'to thev mold; "Figi 5 represents a transverse vertical `sec` tion through the mold and t r,ie lfirst elevator of atypographical machineishowing a single lettermat-rix having .a character; punch-ing of maximum sizelieretoiorepossible aligned -in front'of themold; I

` Fri-g` 6 is v'a view ,similar to Fig.v 5 1out it shows themoldand' irstelevator'modified to align ai si'ngleletter'matrix having a character of` relative-ly larger point size in@ front of the mold; Y

Fig. 7 is ane-nd ifiew-,f-partly in section, 'et the matrix delivery channel through V whichV the matrices pass on their way to the iir'st elevator, the delivery channel. being modified to control the placing of the iisual-'twov-letter matricesat the usual high alignment and the placing ofthe improved matrices at thee tra high alignment; and 1 v Fig.' 8 represents a section taken longitudinallythrough the delivery channel `on vthe line 8-8 of F ig.' 7 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows, a portion ofthe iirst elevator being'shown in Y.position to receive the vmatrices from the delivery channeh .Similar/parts are designated bythe saine reference characters in the several iigures In. typographicalv machines of thegeneral class f shown in the patent hereinbefore described asllieretofore constructed tolus'e twoletter matrices, the matrices wereconstructed substantially as shown vin Fig. vl wherein M represents the matrix generally, 'itnhaving upper and lower 'lugs o r ears E'andE and having upper and lower type forming cha-r-V acters Cv and C respectively punched lor otherwise formed in the lrear or'castiiig edge ofthe'matrix which, in machines of this class,

is brought' into position against the 'ifrontot the mold, it being understood that the type forming characters are formed in the 'casting edge of the matrix in the space between the upper and lower ears E and E at that edge ofthe matrix. The mold which, in machines of this class is carried by a' moldwheel, asl'is generally understood by those familiar with machines of this class, usually comprises a moldfbody l and the mold cap2,

the mold body and cap being mounted usually in Vfired"relationto 'one another and acters therein" are `alirged\`vith the mold cavit`y,'th`e portions 'of the casting edge of the matrices above and below the type character aligned with the mold cavity contacting with the frontfaces not the mold cap and moldA body respectively and forming metal tight joints' which "prevent escape "of 'the molten metal beyond the character 'bearing portions offthematrices. vrIhe -matriXline, in inachine'softhis-classis broughtto casting position frontfof the n i'old by a 'so-called first elevator whichcomprises front and rear jaws 4 andf which Vaire sp'aced'apar'tand form a-'cha'1iel"'6^between them into .whichl the matrix line? isintroduce'd'by 'endwi'se movement through also-called `delivery channel preparatory to t-he casting operation, after which the matrix line'isremoved from the elevator by a reverse endwisemovement into a' transfer 'channel from` which thev matrices are transferred to the distributor oi' the'machine `lier return to--their respective channelsli'n the magazine. )In machines of tiis classas 'i'eret'otore.-cdnstructed'to use twoletterinatri'cesas 'heretofore constructed, the

rear" face Aoity the front Ej aw l 'of the elevator has been provided with v'analigning `bar '7 fixedy at" the appropriate level 'on said jaw soth'at lits upper'edge 'will providea supporting. andalig'riin'g surface: for the upper 'lug ore'arfE'on 'the t'ront edge oi't-he matrix and its 'l'ower edge"- will provide any aligning surac'e for the lower "lugs 'or ears Zon the forward edges ofthe'matrices which occupy the iii-gir aiignmeneposaion whichwiiifpreseni the BlowercharacterC *to 'the casting cavity in Ethe lmold',` and" aso-called Vduplex rai-l 8 has been usually iitt'ed into-the front j aw ot Athe elevator,"this'rail having'a single groove or recess atits rea-r' edge 'tofprovi'de a surface 9 on 'which the' lower lugs or lears E at the iront-edge orth'e 'matrices assembled inthe high 1 alignment position' may rest and 'thus be siip'pjorted in that position, the lower edge ot the duplex rail Vforming an aligning surface against which the lower-lugs or ears E of the.matricesassembled atthe lower level may align. This'duplexA rail 8 is mounted inovably inthe Vfront of the irvstfelevator so that itfpfroj ects into fthe matrix channel asfshowniniFig. '3 when-theiiia'triX line is introduced therein `'andit isretracted", after the 'casting operation hasbeen completed, to perm-itall Iofthematrices to come to common alignment 'at "the lower level where their ingffrail y7,-.as for exampleisiill-ustratedaiand described rin Uf/Sl@Letters-Patent iNo. l 108,829, f granted August'Q 1:9143 itoWfE. Bertram. The-rear jaw. fso the .iirstaeleg na-tor, heretofore' constructed; .has F :been customarily providedy rwithra: raillO.- atti-ts lower. edge to overlie @the firent .portionfof theniold can Zandto unde1`flie-:and1sun sort Y the Vupper lugs'. or/earsfE on the frear# ori casting edge oil-theV :matrices :assembled Ion the Vlower cast-inglevel', it beingclearbfromfhig 3 "of'the'drawing that sucientspace was yrequire'dbetween thei top ofthe 'Inold 'cap 'and the f upperl lugs or ears lof, theirnatriees oecupying thel lower castingwlevel: Vtoaccommodate .the rail.y l() `between these parts. Also, vin machines-of thisrgeneral class asfheretofore constructed to: use Ytwodettera matrices of lthe/fforni heretofore used 'gen'erallyfnthe f front face of tlie-*nioldilbody l hasllbeen groovedto vfor'rnfupper andwlower aligning rails 1l and'lQiwhich were on thelsarnefleyels nwiththe lowerl Vedge-ofthe-1aligning rail 7 and ithe lower :edgel 'ofi the'y duplex rail 8 'Vrespectiyely,':the align-ing.V rails ll and '12 in .consequence :being spaced closely,` one 'above the othen/ y e i .Inrtwoz-letter matrices as heretoforeconA` structed for Quse. :in machin-es of 'thisgemeral v Y casting edge on the: matrix-to .intervene the upper and lower characters@ and Cl tofforin afmetal seal enjoint with the :rontiifa'ee'of the mold correspondingly limiti-ngirthe fsize or the lower character.

Y- Y yThe ypresent inventionprovides-i a =iinaltrix bearing vrtype 'forming characters ciA greatly -increasedpoin't size as compared Fwiththe inaxiinumf size heretofore f useableon ftwo- -letter matrices, 'it being Apo'sitioned toruse characters lup to 26V Apoint si-even ymatrices which are otherwise of the sani'eornij and dimensions as those heretofore-used,and'it `embodies -iinprovementsf*in the Inlachine Awhich adapt it to 'f the easting oftype bars or slugs of correspondinglyfincreasedvpoint sizes freni :fthe-improved -inatrices while at the sainel time adapting the'ivniaehine'to-use -inatrices of the orinslfheretei'orecommonly Fig; 2 of the drawing illustrates theinb proved niatrixdesignated1Mt-Ywhiehfaslstated corresponds i in i'orm andi dimensions lto inatrices 'of the'ilindfsh'own -in'tfFigiL eX'- ceptthat :whilefthe' constant alignrnentllenel tor. the lupper`atype-iformi-ng character G3 AV'is locatedu at` rthe rlevelune#'cn-:in Eig. 24e which agrees .with `the constant alignment level-fior the :upper character 1C; in 4Fig. lyth'e constant alignment leyel iforfzthe l lowerL character. C? lirr'ligf.2ifislocated atthe substantiallylower leyelzfa2-'a2ga-'and 'fthezlargen upper ncharacter G3 l extendsj to aal-greater height abrwetthe line' asf-ation the jcasting edge ot ,lt-he..v matrix .'andllthefflovner v'character vCt' of 'correspond ever between the upper andlower characters to 'iiorrn'tlie4 requiredv vmolten 'metal seal `with thelfront',ifaceotheiinold. In.- orderl to adapt the machine to toast fromhinatrieesflof `the formkshownffin Fig. 2 Vand: to flpro'duce; type bars or slugs 'havingcorrespondinglyincreased point sizes, the railV flOgot `thefrear lowerwedge` Tof' the fup'perA rearV llugsfor.y Tears'E Y .in the first elevatomnand since theonlylpart .f' 'then-'required :to occupy the rspace between .the-'flower edge "ofrthe vupperJ---ears,oralugsf1E of 1 the matrices i and the inoldfcayityis the ifront'fofthev mold' *cap1 fthe :mold cap zinay'be v v spacedat i af-igreater distaneelfronr: thef 'mold bodyJv-to "forma'moldf c'a-vityil which is' of substantially increased "fpoi-ntfzsi-ze as" -corn- 4 leo sible using twoil'etter imatrices ofs the :usu al 5 lf'ormifinhinaclhines yoi lthisrelass v as heretofore constructed.' Y r thevrv constructionr and ar- -rangementlshownffinfFig. i4 .the upper rear -l-ug's oriearsi E of `the "matrices fat thev lower casting-devel i' may rest ri"dire'ctlyf nn'nth;

.front reduoedlf fliei'ghtl iefrithe -Icasting ed'ge'otthe anatrixabove 't'he ufpperf ieharacter Gfi's sufiicient to i :accornino date the Vf uerti cal* height orfrthi'clrness of this portion for "the anold y cap;

'-L In-jorder Ato'ladapt;fthe @matrix wali'g'ning #means .of fthe machine to @the 'casting ofk slugs matrices"o''the form V"shown in? -Fig. f2, -t'he :usual 'aligning fbar'l onthe affronti ij aw of Lthelirs't: elevatoris` Areplaced. by.- an aligning Shar-7? which'isofllessfifertical depth than the aligning bari?? l so that its;i lower edge will -ocou'py a f su'iiciently highl'ele'vation =to` torni f an `align-ing railj forthe lower" iorwa'rd` lugs or' -fearsE enf the lmatriceslofi''the'form 'shown in "Figi when` such; matrices occupy Ythe eXtra 'high alignment "level to lpresent Vthe VVlrliwer 'character l@ftherein in proper alignment fwiththe 1Inoldfcairity 3a, fan-dthe upper align- Jingl1-"alii:-on"-'the`*taceo-the mold' hotly 4is/corses n respondingly raised asl indicated 5 at 11a in Fig.'4. Also,"the usual duplex rail8 isreplaced by a rail 8 which extendsto a greater height than the rail 8 heretofore used, the rail 8a being grooved at its rear edge to form a rail 8b which is at such aV suficiently high elevation to support the matrices of the form shown in Fig.` 2 at the extra high alignment level by the resting of the lower forward lugs or ears E of such matrices 'upontherail 8", as shown by the dotted lines inFig. 4. The channel in the first elevatorbetween the front and rear aws thereof is extended upwardly to a greater' height than heretofore in orderto enable thematricesof the form shown in Fig. 2 to occupy the extra high alignment level, as is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. --The lower edge of the rail 8a and the rail 12 on the face of the mold body form aligning surfaces for the lower lugs or ears of the matrices when positioned at the lower casting level as shown by the full lines in Fig. 4. Y The 'present invention not only enables typographicaljmachines of thev general kclass hereinbefore referred toto use Ymatrices of the special form shown in Fig. 2 bearing type forming characters of greater point-size than has lvheretoforebeen possible with the usual two-letter matrices as shown in Fig. 1, but

it also enables'such machines to'use' two-letter Y matrices of the usual form shown inFig. '1,

with equal facility. fTo accomplishd this, the

rail 8a is formed at-its rear face notonly with the rail 8b to "cooperate with the lower forward lugs or ears of the special matrices as shown in Fig; 2 occupying the 'extraf high alignment level but it is'groovedlongitudinally or otherwise formed at its rear edgeto providea. second rail 9a'below the rail 8b, this rail 9et being located at the proper height to engage the lower forward lugs or ears of matrices of the usual form as 'shown-in Fig. 1 and 4to support such matrices at their upper casting level and the rail 8? is formed aboveor opposite tothe supporting rail 9a -with an alignlevel. The lower rear lugsjor ears of matrices of the usual form `when aligned at their 'upper casting level Vare accommodated in 'the in;- creased spacej formed between v,thelower aligning rail 12 andthe valigning rail 1125011 the face of the mold body; It will therefore be observed that the improved lduplex railv 8? embodies double aligning rails, that is,.the aligning rail Vformed by its lower edge for the lower forward lugs or earsEV ofthe matrices when positioned at the lower casting Y level and the aligning rail 9". which cooperates with said lugs or-'earsof matrices of the usual Aform shown in Fig. 1 when positioned atthe usual upper casting level. y It will be understood that in the improvedjconstruction form of two-letter matrices as shown in Fig.

1 and the special two-letter matrices as shown in Fig. 2 are laligned at the same lower casting level, but the two-letter matrices of the usual form as shown in Fig. 1 are aligned at i their upper casting level by the aligning rail 9b while the special form ofvmatrix shown in Fig. 2 is yaligned'at its upper casting level by the aligning surface formedf by the lower edge of the aligning bar 7a, as indicated by the dotted. linesin Fig. 4,'this` extra high alignment of the special matrix conforming with the location of the lower character C4 in a lower position on the matrix than heretofore, as has been hereinbefore described. It will be understood that the double'duplex rail 8a is movably mounted in the front jaw of the first, elevator so that it may be retracted to bring all of the matrices in the elevator to common alignment 4preparatory to the removal of the matrix line from the elevator,

substantially as shown. in Patent No.

in shown, such means is movable or capable of b'eing set so that it .will bring the special matrices to theextra high alignment level when set for such Vmatrices, but when it is set for the use of the usual form of two-letter matrices it will permit such matrices to pass into the aligning means or first elevator without affecting them. Preferably and as shown in the present instance,such means comprises a rail l'which is pivoted at 14 in a recess 15 formed in the rear-side of the front wall of theusual delivery channel 16 through which the matrices passgfromthe assembling eleva- `tor to the first elevator. This delivery chan- Ynel'is preferably formed as Vusual with rails 17 on whichthe upper lugsor' ears E of the 'matrices assembled at the lower level will rest and over which they will travel, thus supporting such matrices during their travel through the delivery channel* and this channel is also preferably provided with lrails 18 von which the lower lugsvor ears E of matrices ofthe usual form shown in Fig. 1 and yassembled at' their upper casting level may rest and over'which they may travel during the'movement of the matrix line Vthrough the delivery channel, it being understoodl that the'two-letter matrices are commonly assembled at their upper and lowerlevels,accord- .ingto the characterthereon from which the -cast isto be made, by the useof an assembling elevator .such for example as thatshown and describedin Letters Patent 1,149,7 68, granted Aug. 10, 1915,to T. S. Homans.

The-rail lprovided in. the delivery channel operates, when properly set,to raise the special form of matrices as shown in Fig. 2, V

port the lower lugs or ears on the front edgesA of the matrices of special form and to raise such matrices from the usual upper level at which they were assembled up to the extra high aligning level during the passage of such matrices through the delivery channel or into the rst elevator. The pivot 14 of the bar 13 is located at that end of the delivery channel which is adjacent to the first velevator and the matrix supporting rail 19Awill remain in substantially constantalignment with the matrix supporting rail 8b of the rail Sa in the first elevator, but the opposite free end of the bar 13, which is at the entrance or matrix receiving end of the'delivery channel, may be swung downwardly7 so that the rail 19 will receive the lower forward lugs on the special matrices assembled at the usual upper level in the usual assembling elevator, and as these matrices are conveyed through the delivery channel by the usual delivery slide, the special matrices assembled at the higher level will be lifted as they traverse the rail 19 or move toward the left on said rail inclined as shown in Fig. 8 so that they will be raised from the rails 18 anddelivered on to the supporting rail 8b in the first elevator, such matrices then occupying the extra high alignment level represented by the dotted lines'in Fig. 4. On the other hand, when the rail 13 is swung upwardly about its pivot 14 so that its rail 19 is parallel to and above the adjacent rail 18 in the deliveryslide, the rail 13 will have no effect upon two-letter matrices of the usual form assembled at their higher level while passing through'the delivery slide. Any suitable means may be Vemployed for moving or setting the controlling bar 13 either into or out of its operative position, a screw QOvbeing shown lin the present instance for thispurpose, its stem extending through a vertically elongated slot 21 formed in the front wall of the delivery channel and its rear end being threaded into the rail 13,

- the Jiront end of the screw having'a knob or head thereon which provides a handle by which the rail Vmay be lifted and lowered, and rotation of the screw in theappropriate direction will clampV the rail 13 in either of its two positions. Y

rfhe present invention also enables single letter matrices having much larger point size characters'to be used in machines of this class than has heretofore been possible. Fig. 5 showsa singlewletter matrix M2 of the usual form having in its casting edgel the largest` point size character m2 which it has prebody; fas fshwa in-rig; 6,-:thaSaa-fmiagb 185,

peseta-soreie-lfheffmrd ep. e? mehr wherefthe uppe rearlug's'orearsl onjthe" matricesl rest -on'f'i thev Vto chine, 'it being possible-xto^use single?v 'letterfff matriices'fbearing a 'type` forming@character"" has*not"`b'een"possible 'to employ single,lett'efr"fl'00 matrices'withty'pe forming characters Tlarger th'an'jll*points.` f V l, y

In the; 'construction lshown"inFig` f4 when; f ca'sts-are; made from; Inat'rieegt .pg Cmd fagtlieflow 'casting'level,` I`and`-in"the lconstrhction" in substantially ,the positionshlwn that' theme-line or this' ralfwill' extend 'overa conf" siderale' uis-renee and-f thereby avalar undue 1 steepiiess" in lifting-'the' larger ,charac-ter ,inat rifles` to"'th`extra high falgnmeatnthmz trixretaining jaws'of the'llrst elevator,l it 'is' weer understood tra .thefiiffigg-Offthe perience has shown that the back jaw of the l shdwn in fFg.'"6,`the'moldfitself kforms the i195.

matrices maybe accomplished'by'other s'uitfirst elevator sometimes becomes bent out of position by theretra'ction of the mold 'after a cast has beenl made, due to adhesion of escaping type metal to such jaw,v and when the back jaw has become so bentor distorted, the. Y rail-thereon, as commonly used heretofore, Y will `disturb the .alignment of the matrices"- resting on it, but by omitting or removing this rail, the matrices are then supported by the relatively strongerfaligningbar -iixed to the relatively massive front jaw, and hence the matrices will beaccur,ately aligned by this aligning bar without vdisturbance by the rear jaw, although the latter does serve to prevent-rearward displacement of the matrices from the'aligning bar. j y

The present invention enables line casting machines of the class now general use to use matrices of much larger point sizes than has heretofore been possible, by providing the machine with suitable matrix carrying jaws for the-larger character matrices that will also align the usual two-letter matrices, without the necessityof exchanging any ofthe regular parts of the machine, and the usual two-letter matrices;v and the larger character j matrices may be usedin separate lines or they may be mixed or assembled in the same line, 1f such 1s desired. Tousethe larger character matrices, it is only necessary to bring the magazine carrying Ysuch matrices into operativeV position 'in the machine, these matrices being'assembled and presented for casting by the usual operation of the machine,

although in assembling two-letter 'matrices` bearing the largercharacters for casting at the higher casting level, the controlling rail in the delivery channel is set in position to lift these matrices up to the eXtra high alignment level in the matrix retaining jaws of the first elevator. Y

I claim, as my invention z- In aline .casting machine having elevator jaws for presenting matrices to the mold at `a lower and two diiferent upper casting levelst a channel for conducting matricesto said matrix presenting jaws,saidchannelhaving Y relatively fixed rails therein for supporting matrices' at the lower level and at the lowerV of said upper levels, and a supplemental rail movably mounted in said channel to Vbring its forward end into the path of matricesassembled Lat the lower of said' upper levels and i operative to directV such matrices to the relavtively higher upperlevel.

In'testimony whereof I have hereuntorset' 

